John & Grant Leary: Generations of Golf, From Junior Champion to Teaching Legacy

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The best in state teacher multiple times by Golf Digest and
founder of the JRL Academy with his son, Grant who is a rising
player in the game. 


The story behind as a ten-year old going on a trip to Florida
resulted in John being introduced to the game of golf and 6
months later he wins his first golf tournament. He has worked
with Eddie Merrins and his short game coach was Dennis Sheehy who
worked with the great Seve Ballesteros. Chi Chi Rodriguez took
John under his wing but what is one thing he took from him that
he has passed onto Grant? 


He played his first tour event with BTL former guest Brett
Quigley and has played the famous Riveria Country Club in
college, on tour, and with his son. Tommy asks John to rate them
in order of importance to him. John is impressed that Tommy asked
him about a couple stories on being mistaken as a valet person
and an amateur as a pro! Good stuff here!


John’s career was cut short by a back injury that he tells us
about, starting a bait business to pay bills and who was
influential in beginning his teaching career. We talk about how
the mental side of the game is not practiced enough which brings
in G Unit aka Grant Leary. 


Grant tells how the love of the game began and became a science
experiment on his first ever tournament which is a really good
story! The contract he signed as a fourth grader set the tone for
the importance of academics, talking golf at home with dad, and
his first two-day win being interviewed by his father. What 2023
taught him, his outlook for 2024 and the explanation of two
breakfast days in golf. 


John uses his experience of being humbled in the game to prepare
his son for them. The development of the California Jr. Golf Tour
and final questions for them both. 


John Leary Links:


Follow Leary Golf on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/leary_golf/?hl=en


JRL Golf: https://www.jrlgolf.com/


Follow Grant on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/grant_learysports/?hl=en


 


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